Chaelbs h



`(No Meden- C. H. RHETT Car Axle.

Ne. 237,906. I Patented Feb. 15,1881.

lINrrEn STATES CHARLES H. RHETT, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

CAR-AXLE.

SPECIFICATION forming` part of Letters Patent No. 237,906, datedFebruary 15, 1881.

Application filed April 19, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OHARLEs H. RHETT, of the city of Baltimore and Stateof Maryland, have invented certain Improvements in Car- Axles, of whichthe'iollowing is a specitication and I do hereby declare that in thesame is contained a full, clear, and exact description of my saidinvention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to theletters of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to certain improvements in that class ofcar-axles in which the axle is composed of two parts-viz., the mainaxle, or axle proper, which is supported by the axle-boxes, and to whichone of the car-wheels 1s secured, and an outer sleeve, which litsloosely over the axle proper, and to which the other car-wheel isfastened-the object of this construction being to allow ot' theindependent rotatiouof the two wheels in rounding curves.

My improvements consist in a. novel construction and arrangement of thetwo parts of the axle, whereby the same may be separated after theremoval of the axle from the boxes, there being` no securing orfastening devices to keep the two members of the axle in their properpositions other than the said boxes. By this means an injured or brokenwheel can be removed and a new one substituted therefor without loss oftime. My said improvements also tend to simplify the construction oftheaxle, as will hereinafter appear. y

In the further description ot' my said invention which follows referenceis had to the accross-section of Fig. I on dotted lines .fr y.

friction.

Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts in all the views.

A is the main axle, the ends of which it inthe axle-boxes. B B' are thecar-wheels, one of which, B, is secured to the main axle A,and theother, B', to a sleeve, C, adapted to turn loosely on the axle A. rlhesleeve C extends from the wheel B', in which it is secured, to nea-rlthe inner face of the wheel B. The central portion of the sleeve C ispreferably cored to a larger diameter than the ends thereof, to saveboring, and the axle may be reduced in size where inclosed by theenlarged portion of the sleeve, to dispense with turning` at that point.

I am aware that a patent for an axle was granted on the 18th day ot'May,1869, to J. Van Slooten, in which an independently-moving axle andsleeve are shown 5 butin this patent the said parts ofthe axle arelocked byv means ot' a collar which enters thehub of the wheel to whichthe other member of the axle is secured, and the sleeve enters the hubof the other wheel, thereby reducing its strength and interfering withthe independent revolution ot' the said sleeve, and causing undue In myinvention the sleeve does not come in contact with the wheel B' on themain axle, and no collar is used.

I claim as my invention- The axle A, having the wheel B secured thereto,in combination with the sleeve C, secured to the wheel B', the axlebeinginserted within the sleeve, as shown, without other fastenings, andcapable otl withdrawal, substantially as described, and for the purposeset forth.

CHARLES H. RHE'IT.

Witnesses WM. T. HOWARD, ROLAND RHETT.

